Before You Influence Others, Can You Influence Yourself? | Dr. Kate McCombs | TEDxKelly Ingram Park
Self-leadership is the foundation of all effective leadership. In a world where burnout is rising
and uncertainty is constant, the ability to lead yourself—your thoughts, habits, emotions, and
decisions—is more than a personal asset; it’s a professional imperative. We often focus on how
leaders influence others, but forget to ask: Are they influencing themselves first? A professor at Samford University's Brock School of Business, specializing in leadership and organizational management. With a B.S. in Finance, an M.S. in International Business, and a Ph.D. in Business Management, I combine academic rigor with real-world insight. My background in corporate settings, higher education, and leadership development gives me a unique perspective on bridging personal growth and organizational success. I’m passionate about helping leaders and teams unlock their potential through practical, results-driven strategies tailored to their goals. My work fosters accountability, synergy, and effectiveness in today’s evolving workplace. I’ve published in leading journals such as Leadership, Personality and Individual Differences, Leadership & Organizational Development, and the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. My mission is to empower individuals and organizations to grow with clarity, confidence, and purpose. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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- 8:38Hedging: The language tool that can change your life | Alice Ashcroft | TEDxScarisbrickIn this talk, researcher and writer, Dr Alice Ashcroft, explores how the subtle language pattern of "hedging" (those small words like "I think," "maybe," and "sort of") shapes our professional and personal lives in ways we rarely notice. Drawing from her research in gendered language and technology, she reveals how hedging isn't linguistic filler but a tool that reflects power dynamics, gender expectations, and the double bind many women face: speak directly and face social penalties, or hedge and undermine your own authority. Through examples from software design meetings to childhood memories, she demonstrates how understanding hedging can transform it from an unconscious habit into a strategic choice.Rather than advocating for the elimination of hedging language, Dr Alice Ashcroft, reframes it as a skill to be refined and deployed intentionally. She introduces practical tools like "The Button Example" and "The Power of Why" to help audiences recognise when hedging serves them and when it doesn't. The talk challenges conventional wisdom about confident communication, arguing that mastering intentional hedging isn't about speaking more like men or removing uncertainty from our language, it's about making conscious choices about how we use language to navigate systems that weren't designed with everyone's voices in mind. The result is a fresh perspective on communication that empowers people to maintain their authentic voices while claiming the space and authority they deserve.Dr Alice Ashcroft is a researcher and consultant who analyses the impact of identity and gendered language in software design and technology use. Alice has been published in peer-reviewed academic publications, and her PhD, titled “Design, Innovation and Software: The Impact of Gender and Language”, focused on how gender affects communication and teamwork in software design and innovation workshops. Their work highlights the need for more inclusive practices that give everyone a voice, helping to improve creativity and collaboration in the design process.This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
